S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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11304
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 25, 2010
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Introduced by M. of A. DINOWITZ -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Aging
AN ACT to amend the elder law, in relation to the senior citizen energy
packaging pilot program and making technical changes thereto; and to
repeal section 221 of such law relating to the legislative intent
underlying the senior citizen energy packaging pilot program
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 222 of the elder law is amended to read as follows:
S 222. Senior citizen energy packaging pilot program. 1. (A) THE
LEGISLATURE FINDS AND DECLARES THAT A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF THE
STATE'S SENIOR CITIZENS LIVE AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. IN MANY
CASES, ENERGY COSTS REACH OR EXCEED THIRTY PERCENT OF HOUSEHOLD INCOME.
THESE FACTORS MAKE ENERGY CONSERVATION EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF LOW INCOME
ELDERLY CRUCIAL. THE LEGISLATURE FURTHER FINDS THAT ENERGY CONSERVATION
PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN UNDER-UTILIZED BY SUCH CITIZENS BECAUSE OF SUCH
FACTORS AS REDUCED MOBILITY, SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL ISOLATION, AND THE
COMPLEXITY OF THE MAZE OF SERVICES AVAILABLE.
(B) THE LEGISLATURE THEREFORE DECLARES THAT A PILOT PROGRAM TO ASSIST
SUCH CITIZENS TO CONSERVE ENERGY SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED BY THE OFFICE IN
CONJUNCTION WITH COUNTY OFFICES FOR THE AGING. THE LEGISLATURE FURTHER
DECLARES THAT SUCH A PROGRAM WILL FURTHER THE ENERGY CONSERVATION OBJEC-
TIVES OF THE STATE AND SHOULD BE PARTIALLY SUPPORTED BY PETROLEUM OVER-
CHARGE RESTITUTION FUNDS.
2. Within the amounts appropriated therefor, the office shall estab-
lish guidelines for and administer a senior citizen energy packaging
pilot program to be carried out by county offices for the aging in the
counties of Nassau, Suffolk, Broome, Erie, and Tompkins and such other
counties as funds may allow. Wherever possible, such program shall be
coordinated with appropriate existing programs of public utilities, the
state energy office, and the department of state.
[2.] 3. These appropriations shall be used specifically for the train-
ing of personnel within county offices for the aging to insure their
thorough familiarity with state and federal energy conservation programs
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD17537-01-0
A. 11304 2
and benefits and their ability to facilitate receipt of such benefits by
the client population. These appropriations shall also be used to
provide salaries, appropriate benefits and expenses of such personnel in
carrying out the purposes of the pilot program. Depending on the size of
the client population to be served, no more than five of such personnel
shall be trained and utilized in any county.
[3.] 4. The client population shall consist of those senior citizens
living at or below the poverty level. Whenever possible, priority shall
be given to serving first those in greatest need of assistance, includ-
ing but not limited to, home energy assistance program recipients.
S 2. Section 221 of the elder law is REPEALED.
S 3. Subdivision 8 of section 203 of the elder law, as added by
section 18 of part B of chapter 58 of the laws of 2007, is renumbered
subdivision 9.
S 4. This act shall take effect immediately.